Epidural Steroid Injections Limited In Treating Back Pain, N

Epidural Steroid Injections Limited In Treating Back Pain, New Guideline Finds:
A guideline developed by the American Academy of Neurology finds epidural steroid injections play a limited role in providing short-term pain relief for lower back pain that radiates down a leg, and do not provide long-term pain relief. The guideline is published in the March 6, 2007, issue of Neurology®, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
According to the guideline, epidural steroid injections may provide some short-term pain relief between two and six weeks after injection, but the average amount of relief is small.
The guideline also found epidural steroid injections usually did not help patients "buy time" to avoid surgery, or provide long-term pain relief beyond three months. Their routine use for these purposes is not recommended.